Ukraine / Russia Ad Hoc Media Update (165)

V-MF updates. Arctic states meeting – Russia expected to make big claims. THAAD deploys to Romania. Reports of a major purge in Belarus, believed to be the result of a blown Russian coup plot. NATO SECGEN in Turkey trying to reason with Erdogan’s entourage. Nordstream 2 update. SSJ-100 crashes in Muscovy, 41 dead, analysts blaming corruption, greed and negligence – this appears to be a replay of several past military accidents.

DEFMIN Poltorak announces, finally, a major program of deep upgrades to the PSU’s combat fleet involving Western avionics and other components – no details as yet. Media speculate the Elbit MiG-29 Sniper is an instance. Odessa Ukroboronprom Aircraft Plant to perform major recon payload upgrade on the Su-24MR FENCER E, reported to be aimed at providing BLOS targeting data for the Neptun cruise missile.

Russia launching another gas war. Much political news mostly revolving around the new presidency.

Russia believes that the idea of nuclear disarmament is still premature. The Treaty on the Prohibition of Nuclear Weapons (TPNW) at the moment would only provoke a conflict between the nuclear powers, stated the Russian delegation at the meeting of the committee for conference preparation on The Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons (NPT), reports Gazeta.ru. According to Russian representatives, the disarmament process must be approached “realistically and in several stages”. At the same time, it is necessary to take into account the development of a global missile defense system and the prospects for weapons placement in space. The Russian Foreign Ministry believes that the Russian side in recent years “has made a tangible contribution to the process of nuclear disarmament”. The country’s nuclear arsenal has decreased by more than 85% compared to the period of the “cold war”. The delegation also opposed the deployment of the United States nuclear weapons in Europe. In addition, diplomats accused Washington of violating one of the key treaties in this area, the Treaty Between the United States of America and the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics on the Elimination of Their Intermediate-Range and Shorter-Range Missiles (INF). Earlier, Russian presidential aide for international affairs, Yury Ushakov, said that Russia was ready for new agreements on nuclear disarmament, but that “requires serious negotiations.”

Russia is preparing to put to sea a revolutionary underwater weapon—a long-range, high-speed, nuclear-powered, unmanned underwater vehicle (UUV) with a thermonuclear warhead. The weapon is intended primarily for use against ports and coastal cities, with some Russian reports claiming a secondary role of attacking U.S. aircraft carriers. Originally known as the “Status-6 Oceanic Multipurpose System,” the drone was named “Poseidon” by President Vladimir Putin in 2018 after a “naming contest” for new Russian weapons. As early as September 2015, U.S. Department of Defense officials reported the development of the underwater drone carrying a nuclear warhead to attack coastal cities. It was given the NATO reporting name “Kanyon.”

Countries have been scrambling to claim territory or, like China, boost their presence in the region as thawing ice raises the possibility of exploiting much of the world’s remaining undiscovered reserves of oil and gas, plus huge deposits of minerals

The 10th Army Air and Missile Defense Command announced that the U.S. military has deployed its most advanced air and missile defense system to Romania. American troops already offload a Terminal High Altitude Area Defense (THAAD) radar and launchers from a C-17 Globemaster III planes at Mihail Kogalniceanu (MK) Air Base in Romania. “The THAAD deployed to Romania from 69th Air Defense Artillery Brigade, 32nd Army Air and Missile Defense Command out of Fort Bliss, Texas,” according to a statement put out by 10th Army Air and Missile Defense Command. Also added that the deployment of the THAAD is in support of the NATO Ballistic Missile Defense mission and reinforces the strong and unremitting U.S. commitment to the defense of NATO allies. Last month, NATO officials said that the United States will fulfill its commitment to NATO’s Ballistic Missile Defence by the temporary deployment of a Terminal High Altitude Area Defense (THAAD) system to Deveselu in Romania. “The THAAD unit will be under NATO operational control and the full political control of the North Atlantic Council. It will only remain operational until the Aegis Ashore Romania site is back online. The update and deployment are expected to last several weeks,” said in news release. Also stressed that In accordance with NATO’s Ballistic Missile Defence system, the THAAD unit will be focused on potential threats from outside the Euro-Atlantic area.

Paul Goble Staunton, May 5 – Sergey Dorenko, editor of This is Moscow Speaking, says that the Lukashenka regime is engaged in searches and arrests in the Belarusian KGB and the armed services, an indication that the Minsk apparently believes that a coup was being prepared by them, possibly at the instigation of former Russian ambassador Mikhail Babich. Dorenko says that on his Telegram Channel Rasstriga (t.me/rasstriga), a statement that has been picked up by Belarusian opposition outlets (charter97.org/ru/news/2019/5/5/333059/). Neither he nor other sources provide details making it impossible to know just how widespread such searches and arrests are. Moreover, it remains unclear whether this reflects an entirely reasonable response to a genuine threat on Lukashenka’s part or an effort to weaken him further by playing on his paranoia. After all, searches and arrests may not strengthen his position but lead some in the Belarusian siloviki to become even more hostile, precisely what Moscow would want. Commenting on these developments, Arseny Sivitsky, head of the Minsk Center for Strategic and Foreign Policy Research, says that searches and arrests began after Lukashenka’s former security aide was arrested and after Babich was recalled to Moscow and then replaced (belaruspartisan.by/politic/462928/). “We saw that Babich was quite active in contact with representatives of the force structures,” the foreign policy analyst says. The former Russian ambassador took part in many public activities of the defense and domestic security agencies. “I cannot exclude that his contacts were also carried out unofficially as well.” Indeed, he says, one of “’the red lines’” Babich crossed and that caused Lukashenka to demand his removal was undiplomatic contacts with officials. “Unsanctioned contacts with representatives of the local and central authorities, with representatives of the opposition and finally with the siloviki are all violations of established norms of behavior” for diplomats.

Paul Goble Staunton, May 4 – Andrey Dynko, a Belarusian commentator, has reminded the world of something many would like to ignore: when a foreign state, in this case, Russia, bribes someone at or near the top of a foreign country, as has happened in his country most recently, this is more than bribery, it is subversion. “What does it mean when the chief of the security service of the country is working for another country?” the Nasha niva columnist asks. “It means that that country has all, even the most delicate information, about the president” and can use it against him and his country at will (nn.by/?c=ar&i=229962&lang=ru). And that is the case even if the money comes not from a foreign government directly but from a firm in a foreign country that is controlled by or under the influence of that government. The consequences are much the same, however much some in many countries seek to highlight the difference. What has happened in recent days is the “logical” outcome of what has been going on in Belarus for a long time, Dynko says. “For a long time under the present time, it wasn’t clear where Belarus ended and where Russia began. An FSB officer became head of the KGB, there were times when at the head of all force structures stood people who were not born in Belarus.” “Citizens were raised to think in a similar way: ‘a Belarus is a Russian man. Belarus and Russia are a single hole. Dependence on Russia is in fact independence,’” an Orwellian formulation if there ever was one, on a par with “slavery is freedom.” Much is being said about the 146,000 US dollars a Russian firm reportedly paid to a senior security officer close to Alyaksandr Lukashenka and about the far larger sums that Russians of various descriptions paid to the head of Belarus’s radio and television service. But the fundamental reality is not the money but the control it brings. That is a lesson no one in Belarus should fail to learn and that no one in any other country should fail to draw lest it be extended to those who may have received money from Russian sources nominally for one reason or another.

Andrey Dynko, a Belarusian commentator, has reminded the world of something many would like to ignore: when a foreign state, in this case, Russia, bribes someone at or near the top of a foreign country, as has happened in his country most recently, this is more than bribery, it is subversion. “What does it mean when the chief of the security service of the country is working for another country?” the Nasha niva columnist asks. “It means that that country has all, even the most delicate information, about the president” and can use it against him and his country at will. And that is the case even if the money comes not from a foreign government directly but from a firm in a foreign country that is controlled by or under the influence of that government. The consequences are much the same, however much some in many countries seek to highlight the difference. Belarus (green), Ukraine (yellow) and Russia (red) Belarus (green), Ukraine (yellow) and Russia (red) What has happened in recent days is the “logical” outcome of what has been going on in Belarus for a long time, Dynko says. “For a long time under the present time, it wasn’t clear where Belarus ended and where Russia began. An FSB officer became head of the KGB, there were times when at the head of all force structures stood people who were not born in Belarus.” “Citizens were raised to think in a similar way: ‘a Belarus is a Russian man. Belarus and Russia are a single hole. Dependence on Russia is in fact independence,’” an Orwellian formulation if there ever was one, on a par with “slavery is freedom.” Much is being said about the 146,000 US dollars a Russian firm reportedly paid to a senior security officer close to Alyaksandr Lukashenka and about the far larger sums that Russians of various descriptions paid to the head of Belarus’s radio and television service. But the fundamental reality is not the money but the control it brings. That is a lesson no one in Belarus should fail to learn and that no one in any other country should fail to draw lest it be extended to those who may have received money from Russian sources nominally for one reason or another.

The General Director of the leading telecommunications company Beltelecom, Sergey Sivoedov, was detained and taken into custody in Belarus. He was arrested for allegedly receiving a 15 thousand euros bribe from an unnamed Russian citizen, who was also arrested. According to the Radio Liberty, in the press release of the country’s Committee for State Security (KGB), the arrested Russian national is marked with the letter “K”. The investigators believe that Sivoedov received a bribe from a Russian citizen for assistance in the supply of telecommunications equipment. During the search, 470 thousand dollars were found in his possession. The ministry claims that Sivoedov received this money “for other cases of bribery.” Both accused are cooperating with the investigation, said the KGB. The KGB of Belarus reported earlier about the arrest of the former head of the security service of the president of Belarus, Andrei Vtyurin. He was also accused of receiving a bribe from a Russian citizen and taken into custody where he allegedly fully admitted his guilt.

On May 5, the decree of the Russian government prohibiting the anonymous use of internet messengers came into force, reports TASS. According to the decree, the administrations of messengers are required to identify their users by their mobile phone numbers. “Now, the messengers should check the information about the registration of the user’s phone number with the mobile operator. The mobile operator, in turn, must provide the requested information within 20 minutes. If the operator did not respond in time or the phone number was not in the database, the identification will not be considered as passed, ” the document reads. If the mobile operator finds the necessary phone number in the database, then it must specify what other messengers the subscriber uses and assign this user a special identification code. The administration of the messenger is required to limit the ability to send and receive messages for those users who have not been authenticated.

Paul Goble Staunton, May 5 – Yury Sytnik, a former military pilot and a member of the Presidential Commission on the Development of Aviation, says that the deadly crash and fire of the SSJ-100 plane at Sheremetyevo airport was entirely predictable because the plane was poorly designed, the result of corruption and incompetence. According to him, the model of the plane was unsuitable for flight, as evidenced by the fact that it has suffered several serious disasters in the past and not been modified (dailystorm.ru/news/v-aviakomissii-pri-prezidente-korrupciyu-nazvali-prichinoy-pozhara-superjet-v-sheremetevoand lenta.ru/news/2019/05/06/no/). Using unprintable language reflecting his anger about this, Sytin tells journalists that he has been warning about this for the past decade, but “people buy tickets” and those in pursuit of profit are only too willing to put planes on line which should not be there. “People are buying their own deaths,” he continues. That comes on top of widespread corruption in this sector and the desire of many in it to “pocket” as much budget money as they can, even if that means that the products are defective, Sytin says. And those in charge are incompetent to do their jobs: After all, he says, “a journalist is guiding us into the cosmos!” The aviation expert says it would be far better to modernize reliable Soviet-era planes than to try to make brand new ones, given the problems in the branch. But apparently there isn’t as much money to be made doing that. And so in the pursuit of money, Russian plane manufacturers are creating death traps no one should use. And this is not just his opinion, Sytin says. The International Aviation Committee was warned five years ago about serious problems with the Sukhoi Superjet 100, the plane that has cost the lives of so many people in Moscow (aex.ru/news/2014/2/3/116389/). The aviation expert doesn’t say in this interview at least another cause lying behind both the corruption and the incompetence in this branch: Vladimir Putin’s drive for import substitution. After the collapse of Soviet power, Russian airliners increasingly turned to Boeings and Airbuses as their planes. The Kremlin leader has called for Russian planes instead. As these linkages become clear, there will be yet another reason for Russians not to have confidence in their current ruler.

May. 6th, 2019 09:27 am Only a 85% spurt of Western, sub-authorized, clumsy in economic and fuel efficiency, economically bringing about losses in production, with an absolutely French engine not the best. The plane that killed 334, 204, 214, Su-33, Su-80, Yak-142, wanted to destroy the Ukrainian An-148 – the SSJ looks worse than these. Its production is completely subsidized by petrodollars. In fact, pensioners pay for the failure of Putin’s second term for a toy in aviation. The plane SSJ-100 is absolutely a market failure, it is forced to buy inside the country, vtyuhivayut for state loans and state leasing with a guarantee of residual value – that is, built at the expense of the state, sold at the expense of the state, the state is obliged to buy them back from companies. Business on innovation. The engine is half the aircraft, perhaps even the largest part. So they are French, come sealed without the right to climb into them. Also the final of ‘access to technology.’ On Saturn, only assembling is performed with a number of primitive parts of the outer contour. Engine production is unprofitable, and the more they are produced – the greater the loss. Production, as such, is small, which brings the aviation industry. Since 85% of the cost goes to the West. The more the SSJ is produced, the more the loss is incurred. The SSJ has a terrible raid, respectively, the companies suffer operating losses. Constantly there is information about a large simple SSJ, almost half of the park. Attempt to withdraw to foreign markets can be clearly seen about the failures in Italy, Ireland, Mexico, Iran.

Denis Evdokimov, Commander of the Sukhoi Superjet 100 (SSJ-100) Passenger Aircraft, who suffered a disaster in Sheremetyevo, described in detail the event with the liner. As informs Tsensor.NET with reference to UNIAN, the recording of his story has published Telegram-channel Baza. According to the pilot, after a take off in an airliner that was flying from Moscow to Murmansk, a lightning strike was really struck, resulting in a loss of radio communication and the transition of the aircraft to direct control. The radio communication then partially recovered, while the crew helped the dispatchers who set the course for the runway. During landing, the speed of the plane, as Evdokimov claims, was normal. ‘They were approaching the ground smoothly, with a decrease in the vertical speed to the point of contact. I can not say exactly why there was a blow to the ground.’ There were enough speeds to fit the strip with a decrease in the vertical speed according to the procedure, ‘the pilot said. The commander of the aircraft also confirmed that the plane was burning after landing, and not in flight, as previously reported. ‘The fire, I understand, because of the landing. The reason is probably in this,’ Evdokimov suggested. The pilot did not see whether the firefighters met the plane directly during landing, but they, as he said, were in place when he left the booth. Given the previously released video, during an emergency landing, the SSJ-100 jumped a few times in the runway and then burned. Fully burnt tail of the liner. According to the latest investigation by the Investigative Committee of Russia, 41 people died as a result of a plane crash in Sheremetyevo, including one crew member; 37 survived, including four crew members. Recall that at the Sheremetyevo Airport in Moscow, an emergency landing aircraft Sukhoi Superjet-100 flew to Murmansk. The fire was extinguished in about 15 minutes. There were 78 people on board an airplane flying from the Moscow airport. At first six victims were reported, later – about 13. Earlier, the cause of the fire was a lightning strike in the airliner. The RF Investigative Committee filed a criminal investigation into violations of the rules of safety of movement and operation of air transport, which resulted in the negligence of two or more persons.

Russian authorities have released footage of the wreckage of the passenger jet that caught fire during an emergency landing on May 5. The Sukhoi SSJ100 jet operated by the Russian national carrier, Aeroflot, returned to Sheremetyevo airport shortly after takeoff. At least 41 people died in the fire. (Russia’s Investigative Committee via Reuters)

“Ethnic conflicts are not typical of Ukraine. However, in the 21st century we face the problem of creating artificial conflicts, and, unfortunately, this is an external intervention of the Russian Federation. This has become a tactic and one of the separate directions of the hybrid war that has been going on in Ukraine for more than five years,” Deputy Chief of the Security Service of Ukraine (SBU) Viktor Kononenko said at the Kyiv Jewish Forum. According to Kononenko, the goal is understood: to discredit Ukraine in the eyes of the world and to create artificial grounds for an open military invasion of Ukraine. As the deputy chief noted, the SBU has faced the creation of artificial conflicts with the aim of forming new autonomies since 2014. In particular, there was an attempt to create the so-called Bessarabian autonomy, artificial stirring of the Hungarian conflict, attempts to create a separate territory in Zakarpattia region, and so on. There were also issues related to anti-Semitism, in particular, a group of people was detected in Cherkasy region that had committed nine crimes, including two against Jews, on request of the Russian Federation. The group was arrested and they gave evidence that the conflict had been bankrolled. Another group committed an anti-Semitic crime in Sumy. The criminals gave testimonies, saying they were paid $1,600. “Russia is trying to present Ukraine as a country where fascism is reviving,” Kononenko summed up.

Ukrainian President-elect Volodymyr Zelensky said that he is working on several possible responses to Russia’s initiative to issue passports to residents of the occupied parts of the Donbas. “We are preparing. Let’s just say we have several approaches. In this regard, we need to be creative, we need to be quick, clever, what we are – young. And so for now we will make preparations, and later we will show you,” Zelensky told reporters when asked whether he had any suggestions for parliament concerning the passport situation. On 24 April, Putin signed a decree making it possible for residents of the Donetsk and Luhansk regions to obtain Russian citizenship through a simplified procedure. On 1 May, Putin issued a new decree granting the same passport acquisition rights to Ukrainians who lived in the Crimea or the Donbas before Spring 2014. The Ukrainian Foreign Ministry has called for international non-recognition of the passports issued to Donbas residents, and declared Putin’s decree “null and void”. Ukraine has also promised to have additional sanctions imposed on Russia in response to Putin’s passport aggression.

After the second round of Ukraine’s presidential elections, Russian President Vladimir Putin can sign a decree that would give residents of the so-called “Donetsk and Luhansk People’s Republics” the right to receive Russian citizenship under a simplified procedure. Passporting Operation At the end of 2018, Putin signed amendments to the federal law on citizenship of the Russian Federation agreed by the State Duma. In accordance with one of them, art. 29 of the law was added to Part 1: “The President of the Russian Federation for humanitarian purposes has the right to determine the categories of foreign citizens and stateless persons who have the right to apply for admission to the citizenship of the Russian Federation in a simplified manner, as well as the procedure for their submission of relevant applications and list of documents submitted.” In early January 2019, Pavlo Lysyansky, a representative of the Ukrainian Ombudsman, announced the signs of preparation for passporting residents of occupied Donbas. He claimed that the representatives of the Russian Federation in occupied Donbas started agitating people to receive Russian passports. And by the end of March, the issuance of Russian passports to residents of occupied territories was recalled again, because at the amendments to the law on citizenship of the Russian Federation officially came into effect. Related: Donbas citizens to file applications for Russian passport from May 3 How would passporting take place In mid-April, Russian editions of Kommersant and RBC stated that the issue of providing residents of the so-called “DPR” and “LPR” with Russian citizenship under a simplified procedure was fully worked out, and Putin had to sign it. Donbas citizens should submit an application and an identity document (passport of one of the “republics”), if a person changed her surname or name, possessed foreign citizenship, conducted marriage (or divorced), gave birth to a child, the corresponding documents should be attached to the application. Related: Zelensky’s team preparing response to issuing Russian passports to Donbas residents The documents must be submitted to the authorized territorial bodies of the Ministry of Internal Affairs of the Russian Federation. There, the verdict should announce no more than three months. In total, at present Russians plan to issue up to 500,000 of their passports to residents of the occupied territories of Donbas, Ukrainian edition of the Livy Bereh assures. They also claim that the militants are hinting that they can quickly arrange them with the passport of the Russian Federation as “peacekeeping forces.” Why does Russia need passporting of Donbas According to presidential aide Vladislav Surkov, it was “Russia’s duty to people speaking and thinking in Russian, who were in a very difficult situation because of the repressive actions of the Kyiv regime.” At the same time, there are quite a lot of opinions in Ukraine about why the Russian Federation suddenly needed to raise the issue of certification for residents of the occupied territories of Donbas, it might be a good excuse for camouflaging of militants’ reinforcement. Related: Citizens of occupied Donbas who want to get Russian passports to be liable for military service “They might say that their citizens live there, they would defend them and lead send troops there openly. This option is also possible. The Russian army is still in Transnistria, Abkhazia, and South Ossetia,” Yuriy Grymchak, Ukraine’s deputy minister on the temporarily occupied territories, said. In addition, passporting of Donbas citizens can increase the level of loyalty of the local population to the occupation and strengthen the shaky pro-Russian sentiments. The reaction of Ukrainian authorities Prime Minister of Ukraine Volodymyr Groysman said that the Ukrainian government would take all the decisions to prevent Russian passporting of Donbas. The residents of the occupied territories themselves should bear in mind that obtaining Russian citizenship would mean an automatic loss of Ukrainian one and all rights associated with it. Ukrainian Foreign Minister Pavlo Klimkin urged Donbas residents not to accept Russian passports after the presidential decree on the simplified procedure for them.

Since the founding of the Council of Europe (CoE), it has achieved outstanding results in defending democratic ideals and principles, and Ukraine, which is a member, has been active in joining the formation of a common European legal space. However, the organization is in crisis as it approaches its 70th anniversary because of Russia, Ukraine’s Foreign Ministry has said in a statement.

The British Royal Navy ship HMS Echo has arrived in the Odesa seaport on a three-day friendly visit. A team of military seamen will take part in a joint exercise in the Black Sea together with the ships of the Ukrainian Navy, according to an Ukrinform correspondent. — Ukrinform.

Participants in an event of Russia’s “Immortal Regiment” propaganda campaign have attacked Ukrainian citizens in Lisbon, Portugal. The rally was organized by Russia’s Embassy, the Portuguese Communist Party, and left-wing organizations. Participants in an event of Russia’s “Immortal Regiment” propaganda campaign have attacked Ukrainian citizens in Lisbon, Portugal. “Despite warnings by the Ukrainian Union in Portugal, letters sent by Ambassador of Ukraine to Portugal Inna Ohnivets to Lisbon Municipal Council, despite last year’s meetings of Ukrainian World Congress (UWC) President Eugene Czolij with High Commissioner for Migration Pedro Calado and members of the Portuguese Parliament, the Portuguese Communist Party and related left-wing organizations have again held an event of the ‘Immortal Regiment’ propaganda campaign in Lisbon,” Chairman of the Council of the Ukrainian Union in Portugal Pavlo Sadokha said on Facebook on May 5. According to Sadokha, Ukrainians living in Portugal came out to the participants of the rally with anti-Stalinist posters, as well as banners against Russia’s ongoing aggressive policy.

The other day, during the battle with the enemy DRG near Nikolaevka, the Ukrainian Marine has disappeared in the zone of the JFO. Censor.NET informs about this, citing a Facebook page of the 35th Marine Corps. ‘Under the guise of foggy days, in order to obtain a more advantageous position for itself, the enemy tried to imperceptibly overcome the lane of supply in front of our positions near the village of Nikolaevka. Our brothers, who at that time carried out combat duty at the observation post, timely noticed the movement of the enemy and opened fire on the enemy, forcing him to retreat. Read on ‘Censor.NET’: US Embassy delegation was introduced to the Donbass with the terms of operation of the transferred AFU of American equipment. VIDEO At the same time, the reserve group, which began to pursue the enemy, came to the aid of the Marines. To cover retreating saboteurs, the enemy began firing our group of large-caliber machine guns and small arms. During the battle, one of our soldiers disappeared ‘, – said in a message. The search and evacuation group was immediately launched in the area. At the same time, the command of the Marine Corps has appealed to international observers to establish a cease-fire regime in this area. However, the enemy did not go and continued the bombardment, thus preventing a thorough search of the missing fighter. ‘Today it became known that the body of a Ukrainian soldier may be in the morgue of one of the cities in the occupied territory. We are currently taking all measures to identify a deceased person and, in the event of confirmation of information, the return of the body of our sister, ‘- noted in the 35th OSrMP.

“Head” of the so-called “Donetsk People’s Republic” (“DPR”) Denis Pushilin has been urgently summoned to Moscow. Pushilin has been summoned over pending “serious changes related to the possible appointment of Babich as a supervisor in that area.” “Denis Pushilin is currently in Moscow. If [former Russian ambassador to Belarus Mikhail] Babich was in the ‘LPR/DPR,’ the current leader of one of the Donbas republics would hardly have allowed himself to leave just like that. Most likely Pushilin has been invited to consult on the latest developments in the Kremlin. However, the details of these consultations are still unknown,” as reported by the WarGonzo Telegram channel. It is reported Pushilin has been summoned over pending “serious changes related to the possible appointment of Babich as a supervisor in that area.” Earlier, a number of media outlets reported current supervisor of terrorist organizations in Donbas Vladislav Surkov would be replaced by former Russian ambassador to Belarus Mikhail Babich. Read more on UNIAN: https://www.unian.info/war/10539897-dpr-leader-urgently-summoned-to-moscow-media.html

The terrorists of the ‘DPR’, with financial and organizational support from the Russian Federation, carry out a total militarization of children, adolescents and young people living in the occupied part of the Donetsk region through training camps and pseudo patriotic clubs. This is reported by Tsensor.NET with reference to the Eastern Human Rights Group. Video with evidence human rights activists have posted on their site in Facebook. Thus, militants and Russia are preparing a springboard for a new phase of a hybrid war against Ukraine. Military instructors prepare children for hostilities, instil children into the ideology of separatism and the ‘Russian world.’ The organization of training camps spends a lot of financial resources. Read on ‘Tsensor.NET’: In the occupied Luhansk mercenaries of the Russian Federation stormed the fake Reichstag and ‘reconstructed’ clashes on the Maidan – Kazan. PHOTO report Human rights activists urged the authorities of Ukraine and the international community to take all necessary measures aimed at ending the militarization of children, adolescents and youth in the occupied part of the Donbas.

A joint team of instructors from the Lithuanian Land Force are leaving for a military training mission in Ukraine, the Lithuanian Defense Ministry said. The law allows Lithuania to send up to 60 military service members to Ukraine, but they are not involved in combat.

Former deputy chief of the General Staff of the Armed Forces of Ukraine, Lt Gen (Reserve) Ihor Romanenko has said fighting in Donbas can be stopped within a year, but restoring Ukrainian sovereignty in those territories may take years. Romanenko says it is necessary to conduct an all-for-all swap and hold further talks on Donbas’ future.

Delegation of the Defense Attaché Office of the U.S. Embassy to Ukraine visited the area the Ukrainian Joint Forces Operation (JFO) in the Donbas, reported the JFO press service on Facebook. “While visiting the Donetsk and Luhansk regions, diplomats familiarized themselves with the current security policy and situation in the area of the military operation. They met with the brigade and battalion commanders to discuss the operational situation in their areas of responsibility, ” JFO’s statement reads. According to the JFO press service, the American military also familiarized themselves with the tactics of the Russian forces and pro-Russian militants and also the actions that the Ukrainian military take to counter the attacks. “The delegation was also interested in studying the operational conditions the American equipment which was provided to the Ukrainian military as part of the US military assistance to Ukraine,” the JFO press service added.

On Monday, May 6, with the participation of the Supreme Commander in the Joint Operations Headquarters, an important appointment will be held – General Alexander Syrsky will be appointed as the new commander of the Defense Forces. This is on the page in Facebook writes editor-in-chief Tsensor.NET Yuri Butusov. ‘Serhiy Nayev commanded troops worthily, left a good impression of the personnel in general. The replacement of the commanders is planned, rotational. Today, too, a large number of early generalship rankings will be assigned to a group of officers and generals. On May 2, with the decree of the President of the State Border Guard Service, six pre-term general’s ranks were given. It is expected that in the Armed Forces of Ukraine, an even larger meteorite will be conducted ‘, – writes Butusov.

Oleksandr Syrsky replaced Serhiy Nayev as the Commander of Joint Forces in the east of Ukraine. President of Ukraine Petro Poroshenko announced the decision in Chasiv Yar on Monday, May 6 on air of 112 Ukraine TV channel. “According to the proposal of Defense Minister of Ukraine Stepan Poltorak and Chief of the General Staff of the Armed Forces of Ukraine Viktor Muzhenko, it was decided to conduct the rotation of the leadership of the Joint Forces. Thus, I decided to support the proposal of the Ministry of Defense and appoint Lieutenant-General Oleksandr Syrskiy as the new commander of the Joint Forces,” Poroshenko said. President instructed the new Joint Forces commander to skillfully apply his experience “and, in coordination with the leadership of the state, ensure the liberation of the Ukrainian land and the restoration of Ukrainian sovereignty over the occupied territories.”

Secretary of the National Security and Defense Council (NSDC) of Ukraine Oleksandr Turchynov has greeted infantry soldiers on their professional day. Turchynov says Ukraine’s foreign partners highly appreciate infantry soldiers’ participation in international peacekeeping operations.

Secretary of Ukraine’s National Security and Defense Council (NSDC) Oleksandr Turchynov has congratulated infantry soldiers of the Ukrainian Armed Forces on their professional holiday, Infantry Day, which is marked in Ukraine for the first time today, May 6. — Ukrinform.

During a working visit to the Donetsk region, the President of Ukraine, Petro Poroshenko, visited the battlefield for the 10th block-post and paid tribute to the Ukrainian soldiers who died while defending him. Seven troops died heroically in battles against Russian aggressors in July 2014. As informs Tsensor.NET, this is stated in the press service of the President. The head of state laid flowers at the monument to the deceased defenders of the checkpoint number 10. The battle for the 10th checkpoint was the first battle in which the enemy used heavy armor for a ‘frontal’ attack, as well as machine guns and snipers. Poroshenko visited the Donbass battlefield for the 10th checkpoint and honored the memory of the dead Ukrainian heroes 01 The 10th checkpoint was exhibited by ATO forces at the end of June 2014, almost in the rear of the Russian-occupying troops between the villages of Persha Novoselivka and the Uman Yasinuvatsky District of Donetsk Oblast. The block station was set up to cut the communication of the DPR group, increase the presence of Ukrainian troops in the Donbass and delay the enemy’s tanks at Slovyansk.

President of Ukraine Petro Poroshenko said that he did not depart from the ideals during the entire five-year term. This was announced during a solemn speech at the film ‘From Slavery to Liberty’ in the Kyiv cinema, the head of state said, censor N. NET with reference to the video posted on the facebook page of Poroshenko. Read on ‘Tsensor.NET’: Presidential election results published in ‘Voice of Ukraine’ ‘All that I have been doing for five years as a President is the defense of freedom of democracy, the introduction of European values, the rule of law,’ he said. Also, the current president named one of its main achievements the possibility of holding free and democratic elections.

Outgoing Ukrainian President Petro Poroshenko has called on President-elect Volodymyr Zelenskyi to properly take care of Ukraine’s Armed Forces. Censor.NET reports citing Interfax. “I ask my successor as president not to repeat the mistakes of my predecessors and to properly take care of the Armed Forces of Ukraine because a strong army will protect Ukraine under any circumstances. I believe that with joint efforts we will be able to return peace to the whole territory of the Ukrainian state,” Poroshenko said at a meeting with military personnel of the Joint Forces Operation (JFO) on Monday in Donetsk region. The commander-in-chief also thanked the servicemen for their valorous service. “My assistants counted that in five years I made almost 40 trips to eastern Ukraine, 25 of them to the contact line. This visit today, probably, is my last as president,” Poroshenko said. Source: https://censor.net.ua/en/n3125588

Defense Minister Stepan Poltorak said that he had no talks with the newly elected President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelensky. As informs Tsensor.NET with reference to 112 TV channel, he informed journalists during his working trip to the Kharkiv region. ‘I did not have any talks with the newly elected President of Ukraine. I would like to say that I am a civilized man, I will act within the framework of the current legislation, and I think that when such a meeting will take place, I am ready to report on the state of the Armed Forces of Ukraine, on reforms , about the task, about my vision of the future of the Armed Forces of Ukraine, and I would like to say that everyone should act within the limits of his authority – the newly elected president within the limits of his powers, the Minister of Defense – within their own. I fulfill my functional duties and will be their to perform to tak until I trust the President, the Parliament and most importantly – the people of Ukraine ‘, – said Poltorak.

The Minister of Defense of Ukraine Stepan Poltorak announced the modernization of aircraft with the latest technology. As informs Tsensor.NET with reference to the press service of the Ministry of Defense, he announced today, May 6, with a working visit to Kharkiv National University of Air Forces named after Ivan Kozhedub. In particular, the Defense Minister noted that last week he inspected production facilities and samples of equipment manufactured by aircraft factories in Lviv and Odesa for the needs of the Armed Forces of Ukraine. Poltorak expressed confidence that Ukrainian enterprises of the defense-industrial complex have great potential and development prospects. ‘We are carrying out modernization of combat, reconnaissance, training planes, air defense systems, and rocket complexes – a huge work and the result of the long work of scientists and practitioners, which is what awaits you literally after graduating from the university,’ the head of the defense department said, referring to the personal the composition of the military high school. ‘Today, the Air Force is setting a task for our manufacturers who are doing their best to fulfill these tasks.’ See also ‘Censor.NET’: The Joint Force is testing the new electronic accounting system and providing real estate. VIDEO ‘If in 2014 we only repaired our planes, then we went to the second stage – partial modernization due to spare parts and components of Ukrainian production only, then by the end of this year we will have to move to the third powerful stage – complete upgrading of the plane. We will do this. of course, with the help of our foreign partners ‘, – said Poltorak. As the Defense Minister noticed, talks with our foreign partners are about to be completed, after which the process of modernization of aircraft with the newest technologies will be commenced.

Author: Editorial May 06, 2019 News of the military-industrial complex 0 On the basis of the Lviv State Aviation Repair Plant, starting with the year 2020, it is planned to start work on the modernization of MiG-type aircraft with the participation of foreign partners This was stated by Defense Minister Stepan Poltorak during his stay at the company At the moment, negotiations on the participation of foreign companies are taking place at the final stage and the priorities for modernization are defined. The extreme modernization of the MiG-29 aircraft, which was developed at the Lviv Aviation Repair Plant – MU2, was carried out with the help of the enterprises of the Ukrainian defense-industrial complex. As a result of this upgrade, the aircraft’s ability to produce high-precision strikes for land-based purposes has been improved. On MiG-29MU2 it is possible to install missile and bomber weapons with TV heads of type X-29T and KAB-500KR. The MiG-29MU2 aircraft is equipped with VOR, ILS, DME – on-board equipment, which will automatically control aircraft landing and flying on international routes. MiG-29MU2 pilot cabin Photo: ZIK Information about foreign partners with which modernization is planned is not reported. In January, Ukroboronprom signed a memorandum of cooperation with the Israeli company Elbit Systems Ltd, which already has experience in modernizing the MiG-29 aircraft. In the early 2000s, she participated in the modernization of the Romanian park of these fighter jets and, together with other companies, introduced the MiG-29 Sniper, which made its first flight on May 5, 2000. MiG-29 Sniper cabin (MiG-29 upgrade via Elbit Systems) Among the new equipment was installed:

New Modular Multi-Channel Computer (MMRC)

Mil-Bus 1553B

modernized western avionics

replaced communication systems (new radio stations)

navigation system (integrated LINS / GPS)

identification system (transponder)

Analog indicators on the display are replaced

radiation warning station

new HOTAS system (hands on chokes and sticks)

new ADC (Computer with Air Data)

Also, the meetings of the Secretary of the National Security and Defense Council of Ukraine Oleksandr Turchynov with the Director of Defense and Space Security of Boeing, Stanley Prusinsky, discussed the projects of the modernization of the fighter and assault aircraft of the Armed Forces of Ukraine. Therefore, participation in the modernization of this company is not excluded.

Ukrainian Defense Minister Stepan Poltorak announced that a Ukraine is upgrading a Su-24MR reconnaissance plane, the Ministry of Defense reported. During a work visit to the Odessa Ukroboronprom Aircraft Plant, the minister said that the upgraded plane will give the Ukrainian Air Force clear control during combat and improve its effectiveness. Poltorak noted that the plant is currently upgrading a Su-24MR which has not been seriously upgraded since Soviet times. “The plant has done serious work to develop the technical documentation, and today it is ready to modernize these planes. After the modernization is completed, it will be an entirely different craft – a reconnaissance craft that will allow the Ukrainian Air Force to exercise clear control during combat, improve their effectiveness, and most importantly, all the information necessary to make decisions during combat will be received by the combat leader online,” the Defense Minister explained.

May 03, 2019, 18:17 | ID: 49489 This was stated today, May 3, by the Minister of Defense of Ukraine Stepan Poltorak, while on a working visit to the Odessa Aviation Plant of the State Concern “Ukroboronprom”. In particular, the Minister of Defense noted that the plant is currently modernizing the Su-24MR reconnaissance aircraft, which has never undergone major modernization since the Soviet era. – The plant has done very serious work on the development of technical documentation and today is ready to upgrade these aircraft. Upon completion of the modernization, it will be a completely different car – a reconnaissance machine that will enable the Commander of the Air Forces to clearly control the Armed Forces of Ukraine during the conduct of hostilities, will increase their effectiveness, and most importantly, that all the information necessary to make a decision in the course of the battle, the head of the management military operations will be received in online mode, – said Stepan Poltorak.

Television and radio studio Breeze of the Ministry of Defense of Ukraine Published on May 3, 2019 Currently, the Odesa Aviation Plant is undertaking an upgrade of the Su-24MR reconnaissance aircraft, which since the Soviet era never undergone major upgrade. The plant has done a very serious work on the development of technical documentation and is now ready to upgrade these aircraft. Upon completion of the upgrade, it will be a completely different aircraft – a reconnaissance machine that will enable the Commander of the Air Forces to clearly control the Armed Forces of Ukraine during the conduct of hostilities, will increase their effectiveness, and most importantly, that all the information necessary to make a decision in the course of the battle, the head of the management fighting will be received online.

Odessa Aircraft Plant develops air platform for use of Ukrainian anti-ship cruise missile “Neptun”. Transmits the National Industrial Portal with reference to the press service of the Ministry of Defense. According to Defense Minister Stepan Poltorak, among other priorities of the company is the modernization of the aircraft L-39 and the modernization of the Su-24MR reconnaissance aircraft. In order to fulfill the tasks set before the company, the Ministry of Defense provided for the financing of the plant in the amount of about 300 million USD. Also, the Minister promised to provide other orders to the company.

The head of the Ukrainian state energy company Naftogaz, Andriy Kobolyev, in an interview with the Voice of America, announced that Naftogaz is negotiating with the United States the supply of the American gas to Ukraine. According to him, the parties are looking “very closely” at this issue. “This is not a final decision yet, but there is interest from both sides,” said Kobolyev and expressed hope that “this interest will be transformed into concrete gas flows.” On May 1, the head of Naftogaz was on a working visit to Washington. According to the Voice of America, he “tried to ensure the United States support” in negotiations with Russia, as well as working out a joint position on the Nord Stream-2 gas pipeline. According to Kobolyev, the company’s “main message” concerns the situation around the gas transit agreement through the territory of Ukraine after 2019. “The agreement is expiring, and, as you probably know, the Russian side, Gazprom, still holds an unclear position in the negotiations,” he said. “We think they are buying time.” Ealier, Kobolyev said that Naftogaz and Gazprom had no “room for maneuver” in negotiations on a new gas transit contract. He believes that the parties should agree on the extension of the agreement since the Russian company cannot block the flow of gas in Ukraine since it “owes money to Naftogaz, and not vice versa.” At the end of April, the executive director of the Ukrainian company, Yuryi Vitrenko, accused Russia of preparing a gas war. He came to this conclusion amid growing volumes of gas transit through Ukraine. According to the representative of the company, Moscow is pumping gas into storage facilities in Europe and this way going to cover the needs of European customers after the transit stops.

Russia wants to start a new gas war with Ukraine, and everyone – from the Ukrainian president and ministries to Naftogaz – must act to foil these plans, Naftogaz CEO Andriy Kobolyev has said in an interview with the Voice of America international broadcaster. — Ukrinform.

Ukrainian Deputy Prime Minister for European and Euro-Atlantic Integration of Ukraine Ivanna Klympush-Tsintsadze has said that updated Annex 27 (on energy) to the EU-Ukraine Association Agreement will let Ukraine jointly with the EU more effectively defend its interests in gas transit talks with Russia. It is critically important to make a decision before the end of the parliament’s spring session, the official said.

Russia aspires to arrange a new gas war with Ukraine, and everyone, from the Ukrainian president and ministries to Naftogaz, must act to prevent these plans of Russia. Andrei Kobolev, Chairman of the Board of NJSC Naftogaz of Ukraine, told an interview with \”Voice of America\”. While on a visit to Washington on May 1, Koboliev is trying to enlist US support for negotiations with Russia, as well as for the Russian gas project ‘North Stream 2’. Russia wants to create an artificial gas crisis in Ukraine after 2019, starting from January 1, as it was ten years ago Andrew Koboliev ‘Our main message is Kobolev, – concerns in the first place the difficult situation that has developed n vkola agreement on gas transit through Ukraine after 2019. The contract is coming to an end and, as you probably know, the Russian side of Gazprom is still unclear at the talks. We believe they are pulling time. \” Russia wants to create an artificial gas crisis in Ukraine, the official said. ‘Their goal is to create an artificial crisis after 2019, starting from January 1st, as it was in the nine’ This year, that is 10 years ago, and try to make a crisis that will allow them to push their own interests.

The date of a possible ‘Norman’ meeting depends on what further Russia’s policy on Ukraine will choose, and not on the date of the inauguration of the newly elected President, Volodymyr Zelensky. According to Zenzor.NET, referring to Ukrinform, Foreign Minister of Ukraine Pavlo Klimkin said during a conversation with journalists, answering the question whether the inauguration of the newly elected president on May 19 could accelerate the reaching of agreements on the date of a possible meeting in the ‘Norman format’ . ‘Determining the date of the inauguration depends on our parliament and it should determine that date, and then we will look at the possible interaction in the’ Norman format. ‘Regardless of the date of the inauguration, of course, there is very close contact with our friends, the only question is: how Russia will continue to choose tactics, ‘said Klimkin. In this context, he once again stressed that Russia is currently deliberately trying to raise rates in relations with Ukraine, which is evidence of a ban on the export of Russian coal, oil and petroleum products to Ukraine, as well as a shameful decision to simplify the issuance of Russian passports to the residents of ORDLO and Crimea. Klimkin also stated that Russia does not go on to fruitful discussions with its partners regarding the release of Ukrainian political prisoners and prisoners of war. Read on ‘Censor.Net’: Russia opposes US participation in negotiations in the Norman format – State Department ‘She is trying to promise something, but does not say anything concrete, again, waiting for the transfer of power (in Ukraine – Ed.) And trying to use them as a modest card,’ the minister emphasized. Regarding a possible ‘Norman’ meeting, he noted that, to date, no specific dates for meetings in this format at any level have yet been defined.

Ukrainian Foreign Minister Pavlo Klimkin says his probable resignation is in line with his political plans. At the same time, Klimkin did not specify what would happen if Zelensky did not accept his resignation.

Chief of the Special Investigations Department of the Prosecutor General’s Office (PGO) of Ukraine Serhiy Horbatiuk has said incumbent Ukrainian President Petro Poroshenko was summoned to the PGO for interrogation as a witness in the Maidan case. Poroshenko must come to the PGO’s Main Investigation Department on Borysohlibska Street in Kyiv at 10:00 on May 7. According to him, Poroshenko must come to the PGO’s Main Investigation Department on Borysohlibska Street in Kyiv at 10:00 on May 7. Poroshenko must sign an interrogation report of 2016, as well as answer a number of questions relating to the investigation of criminal cases about crimes against participants in the Revolution of Dignity, Horbatiuk said. Horbatiuk explained why the interrogation report of 2016 had not been signed yet. According to him, the interrogation was recorded on video then, and later it was transcribed, but since 2016, the investigators have not managed to meet with Poroshenko so that he could sign the protocol with the transcribed interview. The prosecutor also said he did not know whether Poroshenko would come tomorrow or not.

Ukrainian Prosecutor General Yuriy Lutsenko has said he sees no legal or moral grounds to tender his resignation. Lutsenko claims he “worked in an honest way and has quite good achievements as head of the entire law enforcement system.”

U.S. Special Envoy to Monitor and Combat Anti-Semitism Elan Carr during his stay in Kyiv will address the Kyiv Jewish Forum and meet with representatives of the Ukrainian government and Jewish community. — Ukrinform.

President-elect Volodymyr Zelensky during a meeting with Rabbis from across Ukraine has asked them to support his initiative to develop a dialogue with residents of Russia-occupied territories in Donbas and Crimea.

The preservation of democratic values remains the highest priority for Ukraine, especially in conditions where Russian propaganda continues to impose an idea of a wonderful life in the Soviet Union. Ukraine defends democratic values – rule of law, freedom and free elections. It was stated by President of Ukraine Petro Poroshenko during the presentation of the “From Slavery to Freedom” film, which took place in the framework of the Kyiv Jewish Forum. The President congratulated leaders of Jewish organizations and all participants of the Kyiv Jewish Forum and noted the importance of this event. “I want to thank for the great and long-term cooperation and support of Ukraine,” Petro Poroshenko said. He emphasized that in the past five years a number of significant events had been held in Ukraine, including joint commemoration of the victims of mass executions in Babyn Yar. “I want to congratulate director Arkadiy Kogan, who shot this brilliant film, the entire creative group. I want to congratulate my good friend Natan Sharansky, who is with us today. He is not just a good friend of Ukraine, we do not just consider him Ukrainian, because he was born in Donetsk. We remember and appreciate that,” the President said. “It is a symbol for us. At least for my generation. Where did we first learn about freedom? From “Svoboda” radio, “Free Europe” radio, “Voice of America” radio and London BBC. When you in the second half of the 70’s turned on any of these radio stations, whose surname was heard most often there? We did not know who Sharansky was, but we have already respected and loved him. For what? He was genuine, he fought for values … rule of law, democracy, free elections, freedom,” the Head of State emphasized. Petro Poroshenko noted that the human rights activists who fought for freedom and democracy were also leader of the Crimean Tatar people Mustafa Dzhemilev, leader of the People’s Movement Viacheslav Chornovil, public and political activist Levko Lukyanenko and many others. He stressed that the given film told about the movement from slavery to freedom. According to him, the preservation of democratic values remains the highest priority for Ukraine, especially in conditions where Russian propaganda continues to impose an idea of a wonderful life in the Soviet Union. “Why is it important for us now? All that I have been doing for five years as President is the defense of freedom and democracy. The introduction of European values. Ensuring the rule of law,” Petro Poroshenko said. The President added that the elections that took place in Ukraine were recognized by the world as democratic and free and were called a democratic process of transfer of power. Petro Poroshenko also emphasized the importance of preserving solidarity and unity of all Ukrainians in order to protect the independence, sovereignty and territorial integrity of our state, despite Russia’s attempts to divide Ukrainians. “How can we achieve this? Through the dialogue. Dialogue about the past, about the present. And this film will help us in this. Help ensure our unity for the sake of the future. For the sake of a free, European Ukraine,” Petro Poroshenko said. The Head of State also notes that Ukraine and Israel also have effective economic cooperation. “I am proud that during my presidency, we have completed the 14-year process of signing an agreement on free trade with Israel,” Petro Poroshenko emphasized. In addition, he underscored the visa-free regime between Ukraine and Israel that creates opportunities for thousands of tourists and pilgrims to visit both countries. The Head of State also met with representatives of Jewish organizations in the United States and thanked for the effective cooperation with Ukraine over the past five years. “Thank you for helping to secure and organize broad international solidarity with Ukraine. I also appreciate the close cooperation with the United States, which stand side by side with Ukrainians in our defense against Russian aggression, as well as the in the implementation of reforms,” the President noted. The President told he was proud of the results achieved. According to him, the Ukrainian partners also note that over the past five years Ukraine has made significantly more than in the previous 25 years.

06.05.19 13:48 – SBU siezed large international drug group in Kyiv: 65 kg of cannabis, psychotropics and weapons. PHOTOS Security Service of Ukraine blocked in Kyiv the activities of an organized international group that specialized in the manufacture and sale of narcotic drugs and psychotropic substances. View photo news.

“I would never invent this story,” says Andrey Kurkov. “I wouldn’t believe it is possible.” We were talking about Ukraine’s recent presidential election which — even by the standards of the country’s effervescent political culture — was a showstopper. The end result saw television comedian Volodymyr Zelensky, best known for playing the role of an angry, ordinary citizen who ends up becoming president, repeat the experience in real life. Mr Zelensky will be sworn in as Ukraine’s actual head of state within the next month. “It is like a bad taste TV story,” says Mr Kurkov. “It is extremely surreal.” Coming from him that is quite something. A celebrated novelist, Mr Kurkov made his name with absurdist stories of black humour and scathing satire that held a mirror up to the dark turmoil of Ukraine’s post-independence years when the country emerged from the wreckage of the Soviet Union. One of his best-known works involves a writer struggling to make his way in post-communist society who befriends a king penguin. Our paths crossed a few times back in the 2000s in Kiev. Ukraine was in the midst of the pro-democracy Orange revolution that promised to sweep away the corruption and criminality that Mr Kurkov targeted in his writing. There was a mood of optimism; Kiev’s cultural scene fizzed with energy and experimentation. Much has changed since then. The 2014 Maidan revolution brought more violent political upheaval; Crimea has been seized by Russia; in eastern Ukraine, government forces battle with Moscow-backed separatists; the country’s political class is widely discredited. Meanwhile, hopes of better living standards have faded. Related: Zelensky on dissolution of parliament: As soon as I have authority, you will get answer All very fertile ground then for a different style of politics and politician — even one plucked from the realms of fiction and comedy. Mr Zelensky’s victory prompted a range of reactions. To some, his election is in keeping with the spirit of our times which has seen personalities from the small screen or the stage — including Donald Trump and Beppe Grillo — achieve political stature. Others see Mr Zelensky tapping into a deeper cultural tradition, from Pushkin’s Boris Godunov to Shakespeare’s King Lear, of the wise fool, the jester licensed to speak truth to power. Harsher judges cite his election as more evidence of Ukraine’s essentially flawed status, a state that at times still seems to be proving its viability and where the years since independence have been a mess of political and economic chaos, corruption and war. “A lot of people think Ukraine is really just a joke,” says one Russia watcher. What more fitting expression of that than to put a comedian into the presidential palace? Related: Ukraine hopes Council of Europe to adhere to its principles on issue of Russian aggression Even worse, Mr Zelensky may be a puppet, the play thing of oligarchs and other sinister forces who backed his campaign. In a part of the world that has become a performance laboratory for the art of what the theatre director cum Kremlin éminence grise Vladislav Surkov calls “political technology”, such fears resonate. For Mr Kurkov two features stand out. The first is the bizarre experience of the virtual blending into the actual, of “a political hologram” let loose on reality; the second, the more familiar phenomenon of a protest vote, particularly by the young, is understandable, perhaps even justifiable. Related: Donbas war: Occupant shells Ukrainian positions The question for Mr Kurkov is whether voters backed the TV president — taking his script as a manifesto. If so, then Ukrainian society is “really ill”, he says. For now he is prepared to give Mr Zelensky and his compatriots the benefit of the doubt. Early signs that the president-elect recognises his limitations and will need to work with experienced officials point to a more measured path of reform. (Then again, his Trumpian taste for social media, where he delivers monologues and advertises for top political posts, suggests business may not be as usual.) Related: Advisor to Zelensky discusses diversification of energy supplies with U.S. Secretary of Energy Expectations may be limited. In his forthcoming novel, The Grey Bees, Mr Kurkov tells the story of two retired miners living in the no man’s land of combat-ravaged eastern Ukraine. Their petty rivalries play out against a backdrop of wider conflict. Ultimately, Mr Kurkov says, it is the tale of ordinary folk who are essentially apolitical and just want to get on with their lives. But that’s just fiction. Or is it?